₦airaland Forum

Ghana kicks against US visa restrictions, cites reciprocal imbalance

by Victory Orimemi
July 11, 2025

The Ghanaian government has kicked against the United States’ decision to impose non-immigrant visa restrictions on its nationals.

On Thursday, the US department of state announced that Ghanaian applicants for business, tourism, and student visas will now receive single-entry visas valid for three months.

Under the new rule, diplomatic categories are exempted, while K3 and K4 family-based visas will retain multiple-entry validity for up to 24 months.

However, in a statement dated July 10, Ghana’s ministry of foreign affairs said the restrictions differ from what American nationals enjoy in the country.

The ministry described the new policy as a “substantial variance” from the reciprocal visa arrangements between both countries.

“The Ministry acknowledges the legitimate concerns of Ghanaian travellers to the United States for professional, business, educational, touristic, medical, and family purposes and expresses its firm solidarity with all those inconvenienced,” the statement reads.

According to the ministry, Ghana’s diplomatic missions in Washington, D.C., and New York issued over 40,000 visas to US nationals between January and July 2025, with 70 percent granted as multiple entry.

The government also disclosed that Samuel Ablakwa, the foreign affairs minister, recently led a delegation to Washington to address the issue.

It described the meetings as “fruitful” and said further diplomatic engagement is expected.

“We hope for an early resolution of the concerns that have led to the revision of the schedule, which have been confirmed to be overstays, including by ensuring that the conduct of applicants aligns with the visa application procedures and requirements of the United States,” the ministry added.

The ministry said the government of Ghana remains committed to strengthening ties with the US and enhancing people-to-people relations.

EXCLUSIVE: Trump’s visa clampdown linked to Nigeria’s refusal to house asylum seekers

by Claire Mom
July 11, 2025

Nigeria’s refusal to accept asylum seekers from the United States is partly responsible for the recent visa restrictions imposed on the country by President Donald Trump, TheCable can report.

TheCable understands that the talks are part of broader demands from the Trump administration, which are currently being negotiated.

Diplomatic sources told TheCable that the US president has been putting pressure on many countries to serve as temporary homes for asylum seekers until their cases are treated, and this usually takes up to seven years.

While some countries have agreed, Nigeria has refused to be part of the arrangement.

Trump typically raises the bar in negotiations by slamming very high penalties on the other party until he gets the better part of the bargain.

He has been applying this strategy in his tariff war with a number of countries.

VISA RELATIONS BETWEEN BOTH COUNTRIES

The US embassy had announced on Tuesday a reduction in the validity period and entry allowance for “most” non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas issued to Nigerians, effectively limiting the legality of their stay in the US to three months with a single entry.

An alleged imbalance in visa reciprocity from Nigeria was cited on social media as reason for the hard-hitting penalty, although the exact details were not made public by the US.

The announcement came as a shock to Nigerians and there were claims — now confirmed to be false — that Nigeria caused the policy change by stopping to issue five-year visas to American citizens.

A physical embassy-issued Nigerian visa for US citizens still has a validity that ranges from three months to five years, with either single or multiple entry — depending on the visa category.

Nigeria introduced its e-visa on March 1, aiming to make the process more accessible by eliminating the need for embassy visits and the highly poorly managed visa on arrival.

The e-visa is valid for 90 days from the date of issuance and allows single entry into Nigeria with a maximum stay of 30 days.

The changes were not limited to US citizens as they affected ALL non-ECOWAS nationals requiring visas to enter Nigeria.

However, the US does not offer such a visa category to Nigerians despite the reciprocity agreement.

Diplomatic sources told TheCable that the bone of contention is beyond the non-existent gaps in visa reciprocity.

FAILED DEAL TO SEND ASYLUM SEEKERS

Since taking office in January, Trump has signed a flurry of executive orders aimed at deporting millions of “illegal immigrants” — many of whom are asylum seekers — back to their countries of origin.

The US also pressured third countries to accept deported individuals who were not their nationals, a move widely condemned by human rights groups.

Some of the considered Central American countries were El Salvador and Panama, while in Africa, Libya, South Sudan, Rwanda, and Djibouti were identified as preferred destinations.

A few of these countries have already received some deportees.

On June 9, the US supreme court cleared the way for migrants to be deported to third countries — even to those facing conflict — instead of returning them to their home nations.

TheCable learnt that the US also approached Nigeria to receive the deported asylum seekers.

While the specifics of the arrangement were not disclosed, diplomatic sources confirmed that discussions took place but were unsuccessful owing to Nigeria’s unwillingness to accept non-citizens, many of whom had a number of years left to finalise their asylum applications.

A large number of the deportees are also believed to be convicted prisoners.

The proposed arrangement closely mirrors the controversial asylum deal between the United Kingdom and Rwanda, which faced legal and political setbacks and remained largely unimplemented.

Under the scheme, the Home Office agreed to pay money to support economic growth in Rwanda and provide extra payments to cover the cost of processing and relocating migrants there.

The UK government has already paid £220 million to Rwanda under the arrangement.
But shortly after assuming office, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the plan had been “dead and buried”.

MORE DEMANDS

TheCable learnt that the US also pushed for the option of allowing its citizens to electronically apply for Nigeria’s five-year visa without visiting an embassy.

But sources familiar with the negotiations said Nigeria was not open to the request, citing concerns over reciprocity, as similar American visa privileges are not extended to Nigerians.

In its Tuesday updated visa policy, the US embassy said Nigeria still needs to meet certain criteria to improve the visa reciprocity standing.

The embassy listed the requirement to include issuing secure travel documents with verifiable identities, effectively managing visa overstays, and sharing relevant security and criminal record information with US authorities.

TheCable understands that what the US wants is access to Nigeria’s criminal database so that Nigerians with previous criminal records who are now living in the US can be identified for deportation.

'THE ART OF THE DEAL’

Since returning to the presidency, Trump has wielded the tactics outlined in his co-authored book, ‘The Art of the Deal’, as the blueprint for his approach to global negotiations, particularly on tariffs and migration deportations.

The president’s signature style — marked by bold threats, high-stakes brinkmanship, and a willingness to walk away — has shaped both US trade policy and immigration enforcement.

On tariffs, he has repeatedly imposed steep levies on trading partners, only to offer temporary reprieves as leverage for bilateral agreements.

Nigeria’s alignment with BRICS, an economic bloc Trump has repeatedly criticised, has done little to draw favours from the US presidency.

On Wednesday, Nigeria was conspicuously absent in Trump’s meeting with other African leaders at the White House aimed at improving economic cooperation .

In reaction to the visa policy update, Nigeria said the decision appeared misaligned with the principles of reciprocity, equity, and mutual respect that should guide bilateral engagements between friendly nations.

Nigeria urged the US to reconsider its decision in the spirit of partnership, cooperation, and shared global responsibilities.

franchasng:
Black African country leaders should work hard with honesty to put their houses in order.


This thing is not rocket science, we can do better than we are doing right now, it hurts that I am not in a position to lead Nigeria to greatness and reason I have been routing for Peter Obi so that bright minds like us can come onboard to chart a new course for Nigeria of our dreams

franchasng:
Black African country leaders should work hard with honesty to put their houses in order.


This thing is not rocket science, we can do better than we are doing right now, it hurts that I am not in a position to lead Nigeria to greatness and reason I have been routing for Peter Obi so that bright minds like us can come onboard to chart a new course for Nigeria of our dreams

naptu2:
https://www.thecable.ng/ghana-kicks-against-us-visa-restrictions-cites-reciprocal-imbalance/

franchasng:
Black African country leaders should work hard with honesty to put their houses in order.


This thing is not rocket science, we can do better than we are doing right now, it hurts that I am not in a position to lead Nigeria to greatness and reason I have been routing for Peter Obi so that bright minds like us can come onboard to chart a new course for Nigeria of our dreams

franchasng:
Black African country leaders should work hard with honesty to put their houses in order.


This thing is not rocket science, we can do better than we are doing right now, it hurts that I am not in a position to lead Nigeria to greatness and reason I have been routing for Peter Obi so that bright minds like us can come onboard to chart a new course for Nigeria of our dreams

franchasng:
Black African country leaders should work hard with honesty to put their houses in order.


This thing is not rocket science, we can do better than we are doing right now, it hurts that I am not in a position to lead Nigeria to greatness and reason I have been routing for Peter Obi so that bright minds like us can come onboard to chart a new course for Nigeria of our dreams